A fly-tipping hit squad has been rifling through rubbish in the hunt for names and addresses.

And they plan to carry on snooping at the Jock’s Loaning waste dump in Dumfries after folk just left waste dumped outside locked doors.

And the culprits could face hefty fines.

The site is run by Shanks on behalf of the council. Last week, a council ruling from February last year came into force slashing opening times by two days.

But people caught out by the changes have simply dumped their rubbish at the gates instead of taking it home.

Michael Dillon, of nearby Criffel Road, said: “After two days it has just got ridiculous.

“The rubbish is not just being left outside but also along the road to a farm. We just hope it’s not going to attract rats. We’ve been told that workers can’t take the rubbish in but have to wait for the hit squad and that takes time. In the meantime we have to put up with the rubbish.

“The message has to get out that the tip is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays now.”

A council spokesman confirmed that the build-up of rubbish from last week has now been removed and was being looked through by fly-tipping officers for addresses and personal details.

He added: “Additional fly-tipping surveillance at the recycling centre is taking place. The reduced hours were implemented to provide a more equitable service at household waste recycling centres. This was agreed in February, 2013.

“Public notices were placed in the week starting August 1. The recycling centre website at dumgal.gov.uk/recycling centres was updated to show the new times.”